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Specialist care and support for Service leavers, reservists, veterans and their familiesThe purpose of this leaflet is to provide information on Op COURAGE: The Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service.
If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, expert help is available from Op COURAGE: The Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service.
It doesn’t matter if you’re due to leave the Armed Forces, just left the Armed Forces or left many years ago, we are here to help and understand the courage it takes to speak to someone.
When you contact us, you will speak to people who:
- understand the Armed Forces and military life
- are either from the Armed Forces community or highly experienced in working with serving personnel, reservists, veterans and their families
- will work with you to make sure you get the right type of specialist care, support, and treatment.
Op COURAGE:
The first step to getting help is to contact the Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service. You can contact the service yourself or you can ask your GP, a charity or someone else, such as a family member or friend, to do this on your behalf. The service will arrange for you to have an assessment, to make sure you get the right care and support. We know that everyone is different, so the service offers a range of treatment, which includes:
- working with Defence Medical Services to make sure you get mental health care and support as you transition from the military to civilian life
- recognising the early signs of mental health problems and providing care and treatment for this
- therapeutic treatment for more advanced mental health conditions and psychological trauma
- intensive emergency care and treatment if you’re in a crisis
- helping you to access other NHS services if needed, such as ‘Improving access to psychological therapies’ (IAPT) and eating disorder services
- working with charities and local organisations to support you with your wider health and wellbeing needs, such as housing, relationships, finances, employment, drug and alcohol misuse and social support.
Support for Armed Forces families
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health difficulties, the rest of the family can be affected. The Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service can help your family get the right care and support. With your permission, they can also be involved in your care plan.
To get help from this service you must:- be a resident in England and have served in the UK Armed Forces for a full day
- be registered with a GP practice in England or be willing and eligible to register with a GP
- provide your military service number or another form of eligibility.
How to contact Op COURAGE: The Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service
